Drying apparatus



March 25 1924. 1,488,198

f J. J. DEWEY DRYING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. l2, 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet I March 25 ,'1924.

1,488,198 J. J. DEWEY DRYING APPARATUS Original Filed Jan. l2 1918 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 jlz'g. Z.

ggf-5 -r 2@ I ZIN/522ML I 7 J ify which the circulatlng air current may Patented Mar. 25, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT orner..

JOHN J. DEWEY, GF CINCINNATI, 0310, ABBIGNOB T0 THE AMERICAN LAUNDRY IA- UHINEBY GOMPANY, i0? NOBWOOD, OHIO, A COBPORATIQN 0F DEO.

DBYING APPARATUS.

Application illed January 18, 1918, Serial le. 211,531. Renewed lay 28, 1922. Serial In. 668,125.

To all whom it ma/y concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN J DEWEY, citizen of the United States, residin at -Cincinnati, in the county of Hami ton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Drying Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. f

This invention relates to drying apparatus and particularly to what are known as d ing tumblers embod -n a rotary foramlnous c linder in whic t e clothing, fabrics or ot er materials or articles to be dried are tumbled while circulating heated air therethrough to remove the mosture.

One object of the invention is to provide improved apparatus of this kind wluch conserves heat and reduces the steam consumption, whereby the apparatus can be operated at lower cost than heretofore. Another object of the invention is to enable the operator to load or unload the cylinder without sto ping the air circulating fan but nevertheess without liability of blowing a blast of hot air into the face of the operator. A further object of the invention is to rovide improved apparatus of this kin diverted at will either to flow throu h the heating chamber and then to the cy inder, or entirely to the outside air, so as to prevent loss of heat in the heating chamber while manipulatin the goods in the cylinder. A further o ject of the invention is to provide implroved drying apparatnsin wh1ch the pat of movement of the air current is automatically controlled hy the outer casing door, so that without ahten-' tion by the operator the air current is directed either through the drying cylinder durin running condition or to the outside air w ile loading or unloading the cylinder.

Further objects of the vinvention are in part obvious and in part will appear more 1n detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one Ereferred embodiment of the invention, ig. 1 is a sectional elevation on the line 1-1 Fig. 3; Fig.,2 is a front elevation, partly broken out and in section, of the lower portion of the apparatus' Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the ine 3 3 Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a detail sectional elevation, on the line 4-4 Fig. 1z showing two positions of the air controlling door or gate.

The resent invention is an improvement upon e drying tumbler described,` shown and claimed in a prior application of Edward I. Cutter for d ing apparatus, tiled June 19, 191e, Serial umher 104,545. In

many resplects the present apparatus is likey that o f t e rior application referred to, to which re erence may therefore be had for a more complete description of said apparatus.

As illustrated in the drawings the ap aratus comprises an outer casing or ac et 1 provided at its front with a hi door or cover 2 closing an opening enablin the olperator to gam access through the wa of t e. casing to the rota `oraminous drying cylmder 3 rovided wlth a hinged door or doors 4 an said cylinder are the usual bailies 6 for tumbling the goods. By bringing the cyllnderrd'oor 4 into registering relation w1th the casing door 2 access is afforded to the interior of the cylinder for loading or unloadin the same.

At t e back of the casing is a heating chamber 7 containing the usual pipe coils 8 connected to a source of heating medium, such as steam. Air circulating around mid pipes is led to the 'heating chamber through a passage 9 communicating throu h an opening 10 with the drying cham r in which rotates the cylinder` 3. The heated air discharged into the drying chamber p through the foraminous cylinder and the goods therein and is discharged at the lowerr portion of said chamber through an opening 11 into the screening chamber 12 located at the front-ef the casing below the cylinder. Said chamber is provided with a suitable air inlet, such as the screened openings 13 located at either end of said chamber. One wall of said chamber such as the bottom wall, consists of a removable screen 14, throu h. which the air current ows to the fan camber 15 in the bottom of the casin and extending back beneath the drying clamber. Screen 14 is a removable member resting on suitable supports in the casing and removable throu h lts front wall by opening the door 61, thereby enabling said screen to cleaned and freed from lint or other foreign substances which may collect thereon.

In the fan chamber are located one or more air circulating devices A1'?, such as air 'supported upon the shaft 5. In

be readily pumps, fans or blowers, two being illustrated. These fans are shown as of the centrifu al type, having their rotors 18 mountedg upon a shaft 19. The fan inlets 20 are o n to the fan chamber 15, while their out ets communicate with a passage 21 extendin rearwardly in the casing beneath the heating chamber 7 and communicating through the rear wall of the casing with an outlet pipe 22,'which may discharge into the atmosphere or may be connected to a c omuit leading to a remote point, as desire At the bottom of the heating chamber 7 is a gate or door 23 movable to two positions shown in full and dotted lines Fig. 1, preferably by being hinged to the wall o the casing, as at 24. In the loading position, shown in full lines, this door closes or cuts oil' communication from the passa 21 to the heating chamber, so that all o the air discharged from the fans is directed through the passage 21 to the outlet 22 and thence into the outside air or into a conduit leading to any suitable point. Also, when door 2 is o en, the suction of the fans is effective in t e drying chamber so that there is a rush the floor of the passage or iow of atospheric or unheated air through the d r opening into the drying chamber and thence to the fans and to the outlet. This inlowing atmospheric air cools down and freshens u` the clothes which have just been dried. n the running or drying position, shown in dotted lines, the door forms a delector which diverts a portion of the air into the heating chamber and the balance to the outlet. To split the air current the door is preferably provided with one or a plurality of space curved feet 24', which support the door in the running osition with its front edge 25 elevated a ve 21. This arrangement diverts to the outlet 22 the heavier moisture laden air which naturally travels near the bottom of the passage 21, and the lighter drier air to the heating chamber, from which it is circulated through the drying cylinder. As will be readily understood when the tumbler is loaded and closed and the fans are running, a certain quantity of air is drawn in aty the inlets 13 and circulated through the ap aratus, and a portion of the air is continua ly discharged at the outlet. The greater quantity of air however, is circulated again and again thro h the cylinder, inally reaching the outlet w en it has absorbed its portion of the moisture in the goods.

In the use of apparatus of this kind it is customary to unload and load the cylinder without sto ping the fan, and as the doors 2 and 4 are ai' as compared with the nor inal outlet to t e atmosphere, the rotating fans drive a heavy current of hot air into the lface of the operator working at the sans doors. In the present a paratus, when the' doors 2 and 4 are opene to load or unload the c linder the gate 23 is moved to the close position shown in full lines Fi 1, .so that all of the air delivered by the gans is discharged to the atmosphere. The heats in c hainber is therefore cut out of the circu atin system and no condensing effect occurs in the steam pipes therein, thereby conserving heat and steam and at the same time preventing outward flow of air at the loading door. Preferably also the resent apparatus includes I'neans or mechanism for automatically verning the position of the current control ing gate 23 by the position of the door 2, so that the direction of flow of air 1s ad'usted without attention by the operator. or this purpose the gate 23 is pivotally connected to a rod or link 26 extending upwardl through the heating chamber to the top o the apparatus, where it passes through a frame guide 27. 28 indicates a bracket carryi a bell crank lever, one arm 29 of which is orked to embrace the rod 26, said bracket arm being provided with 'a recess or seat 30 to receive a cross pin 31 connected to rod 26 lying beneath the adjustable Vlock nuts 32 thereon. 33 indicates lock nuts carried b the rod 26 lying beneath the arm of said ever. The other arm 34 of said lever is pvotally connected to a rod 35 extending through a guide 36 to the front of the machine where it is provided with an aiitifriction member, such as the roller 37 for engagement by the door 2.

When the door 2 is closed and the machine running, the gate 23 drops by gravity and moves its actuating mechanism to the osition shown in dotted lines. When the oor 2 is opened it is ushed back to the position shown in full mes Fig. 1 thereby pushing back the rod 35 and closing the gate 23. The weight of the door 2 is sufcient to hold the uparte in this position While loading or u oading the apparatus. The gate 23 can. also be opened or closed vby hand, when desired or necessary b manually pushing or pulling on the ro 35.

The heating effect of the coils 8 is quite pronounced, as a consequence of which said coils carry considerable heat at all times. It is therefore desirable to not only save this heat by cutting off the circulation of air over the coils when loading or unloading the machine, but also to prevent radiation of the heat in other ways. One possible loss of heat is b radiation -from the upper ortion of the heating chamber when the oor 2 is open. To revent this loss the upper portion of the eating chamber may be provided with an automatic damper or door, such as indicated at 38. This damper is a light sheet metal member hin ed at 39 to the upper wall of the casing an of proper shape to wholly close or S9111 the heating Ril maaien J chamber when the damper is the itio n shown in full lines Fig. 1. This is t e position of damper 38 when the door 23 is closed, and in this position all the heat of the coils is bottled up in the heating chamber. The doorl assumesl this position by egravity. However, when .the door 23 is mov to the dotted line position Fig. 1 the current of air passing through the heating chamber pushes back or raises the damper 38 to the position shown in dotted lines, thereby permitting a free flow of air to the drying chamber; Y

Wlit I claim isz;-

1. in a ara us, comprising a casing prorgidgd vlvilth a drying chamber in its upper portion, a heating chamber behind the drying chamber and a passage leading to an outlet, an air circulatin device located beneath the drying cham r and communieating with said passage, a screen chamber located between the drying chamber and device, and a movable member'arran d in one position to divert a portion of t e air to said heating chamber and a portion to the outlet and in another position to close communication lictween said passage and the hating cha bei'.

2. ryin apparatus, comprising a casin provided with a drying `chamber in its uppe portion, a heatin chamber behind the drying chamber an a passa e leading to an outlet, an air circulating evice located beneath the drying chamber and communicating with said passage, a screen chamber located between the drng chamber and device, a movable mem r arranged in one ition'to divert a rtion ofthe air to said Editing chamber an a portion to the outlet and in another position to close communication between said passage and the heating chamber, and an air inlet to said casing be- Ytween said device and drying chamber.

3. D in appartus comprising a casing provide wgith a heatiiigchamber, a drying Achamber having an openinga screen chamber, means for circulatin air through said chambers, a door closing t e openi to said dryi chamber and an outlet, an ,means contro ed by said door for diverting the air current from said chambers to an outlet.

4. Drying apparatus, comprising a casing containing a heating chamber means for' circulatin air throu h said c amber a door for sai casing, am? means controlled by said door for regulating the path of moveiment of the air current. ,y

5. ing apparatus, com ris a casin rovid with heating an cham rs, a door closing an opening to said drying chamber, means for circulating air throu h said chambers, and means con- `troll by said door arranged when said door is opened to close the heating chamber.

6. Drying apparatus, comprising a casing havin a heating chamber and a drying cham r, an air circulating device having an outlet communicating with said heating chamber andwith the atmos here, a door for said dr ing chamber, and) trolled by the position of said door for diverting the air current from said device either to said heating chamber or to the atiios here. l

rying ap aratus, comprisin a casing provided with a drying cham r and a eatin chamber, an air circulatin device arran to withdraw air from sai drying cham r and communicating with a passa e lying adjacent the heating chamber and le'aing to an outlet, a door adapted to close an opening leading from said passage to the heating chamber, a door covering an opening to the drying chamber, and operating coisinelgtions between said doors.

ryin apparatus, comprisin a casing provided with a drying chamber ad a heating chamber, andan air circulatin device arranged to withdraw air from sai drying chamber and communicating with a passage lying adjacent the heating chamber and leading to an outlet, a door adapted to close an opening leading from said passageto the heating chamber, a door covering an opening to the drying chamber, and operatin connections between said doors and arrange so that when the last named door is opened the filist named door is closed.

9. ryin apparatus, comprising a casing provided with a drying chamber and a heating chamber, an air circulating device arranged to withdraw air from said drying i chamber and communicating with a passage lying adjacent the heating chamber and leading to an outlet, a door adapted to close an opening leading from said passage to the heating chamber, a door covering an opening to the drying chamber, and operatin connections between said doors and arrange so that when the last named door is o ened the first named door is closed an vice versa.

ing provide it a heating chamber, a dry- 10. Dryin ap aratus, com rising a cas- .fw p

means con, 7o

ing chamber and a screen chamber, means 11 for circulating air through the heating chambefto the drying chamber, and means for closin communication between the heating and rying chambers whenthe circulation of air between them ceases.

11. Drying apparatus, comprising a casing provided with a heating chamber, a drying chamber, and a screen chamber, means for circulating air from the heating chamber to the drying chamber, and means controlled by the flow of air through said chambers for closing communication between the heating and drying chambers when the circuation of air between them ceases.

Drying apparatus, comprising a casiso chamber.

' and o erating means for the other 14. Dryin applaratus, com rising al casing provide wit a heating c amber and a drying chamber, means for circulating air throu h said chambers, and a gravity controlle dam er for closing communication between sai chambers when the circulation rof air between them ceases.

15. Dryin ap aratus, com rising a casing rovide wit a drying c iamberaiid a heatin chamber and a passa .leading to an out et, an air circulating evice located in said casing and c passage, and a movable member arranged in one position to divert a portion of t. e air to said heating chamber and a portion to said passage and in another position to close communication between said passage and the heating chamber. y

16. Dryn ap aratus, com rising a casing provide wit a heating camber` and a drying chamber, means for circulating air through said chambers, regulating dam ers one at the entrance to and one at t e exit from the heating chamber, one of s aid dampers being normally closed by gravity,

amper. 17. in a paratus, comprisi a casi proide wIith a heating cham er and anrying chamber, means for circulating air communicating with said through said chambers, a normally operable dam r for controlling the flow of air from the eating chamber to the drying chamber, and another damper for controlling thle flow of air from the drying chamber to the heating chamber, said last named damper bein normally closed by gravity and opened by e How of air between said chambers.

18. Dryin apparatus, rcomprisin a casing provide with a heatin cham r and a drying chamber, a door or said'casing, means for circulating air thro h said chambers and means controlled y said door for regulating the flow of air between said chambers.

19..Dr yin ap aratus, comprising a 'casing provide wit a heating chamber a drying chamber, and a fan chamber, an means 01' closing both ends of the heating chamer.y

20. `Drying apparatus, comprising a casing provided with a Vheating chamber, a drying chamber, and a fan chamber, and means adapted in one position to cause circulation of' heated air from the heati chamber through the drying chamber an in anotherposition to cut oif said circulation and cause circulation of unheated air through the drying chamber.

21. in a aratus, comprising a casing provriyde wiltii a heating chamber, a drying chamber, a fan chamber, means for closingycommunication between the fan chamber and heating chamber, an operatingde vice therefor and a damper controlling communication between the heating chamber and drying chamber and adapted to be closed when communication between the fan chamber and heating chamber is cut oi.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

' JOHN J. DEWEY.

Certificate of Correction.

It is hereb certified that, in Letters Patent No. 1z488,'19 8, granted Much 25, 1924,- upon t ef' plication of John J. Dewey, 'of Cmcimiati, Ohio, for an mlrovemept in x'yng Apparatus, errors a pear injthe prinbeq specificmlzionl urng correction as follows: Page 3 line-4 claim `3,"nfte'r, the 's'yHahle ber an before the comma insert the worcs amd an. putlet; line 49, strike out' the words and an outlet, sind line 51, for the article an read the; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with 'those oorrectins therein thatthe same magr conform to the record of the case in the PatentI gned and sealed this 2th day of May, A. D. 1924, r [SML] KARL FENNING,

Actlg Omnn'uesioner of 

